Combination periscope and stadimeter



Jan. 1, 1935. F. L. a. KOLLMQRGEN 1,986,731

COMBINATION PERISCOPE AND STADIMETER Filed Dec. 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Shet l fledenik l. 6552217201922 Jan. 1, 1935. F. 1.. G. KOLLMORGEN 1,986,731

COMBINATION PERISCOPE AND STADIMETER Filed Dec. 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1 1 I I 1 I Jan. 1, 1935. F. 1.. e. KOLLMORGEN m COMBINATION PERISCOPE AND STADIMETER Filed Dec. 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 cow/m5 ANGLE A7? A/ Call/6108 0 OF COUR E cast-[W 0 OBSEAVAT/O/V Jan. 1, 1935. F. L.-G. KOILLMORGEN 1,986,731

COMBINATION PERISCOPE AND STADIMETER Filed Dec. 8, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Gamma/1 p Patented Jan. 1,

NITED$ ATE1 PATE OFFICEN "flissavs commons rERisooPEANDj q p s'rapnuc'rnn Frederick L; G.Kol lmorgen,'ltlountain Lakes,

,gjrlippua tst p cembera asaseriai No. 646, 316 I 5 part of the ship, such as the height of the smoke stackmeasured from the water "levelf and the course being foundffrom the horizontal dimension of the image of the ship asreferred m me known length of the ship. Devices achieving these measurements have been used before and are :known as stadimetersi" Usually a stadimeter when employed onasubmarine .periscope-has beenmade in the shape of a smallattachment to the eyepiece, maddetachable so that the periscopecould beused for ordinary observation when required, and for ob- .taining the range and course angle if the stadim eter had been attached; Thismethod has various serious drawbacks. The mechanical thickfront of the eyepiecejlensand the eye-pupil short ens the eye distance considerably, so'that some times the visible field is reduced and sighting is rendered uncomfortable under all conditions. Furthermore, since the stadimeter attachment "produces two images, one in one half and the other in the other half of the field, the eye pupil takes in only the parts of bothfimages lying near the dividing line and it is difiicult under-"certain conditions to makesatisfactory measurements.

Also, since thedoubling up ofthe imagesis I obtained by having one or moreprismatic wedges of variable angle, thesejwedges introduce prismatic colors which interfere' with clear vision.

Another drawback is that the angles measured with the -stadimeteroutside of the eyepiece are afiected by the position of the' eyepiece when focussed for' the eye of the'observer, so'that differnt readings are obtained by difieren'tobservers, which makes it necessary to set the eyepiece for one definite focus and correct forthe'indi vidual focus of each observer by meansof addi- 1 tional lenses. Both the wedges and theadditional lenses diminish the light transmissionjof the t For the purpose of obtaining adouble image one of the large lens intthe interior hot the periscope tube, preferably thehlowr objective, is di vided in two substantially equalparts and mountness of the stadimeter introduced between the 7 course of anenemy ship, aharidle conveniently sjcialnsqf (cre m);

edm such a way that the, two halves are slidable against'each other, in a plane normal to the opticaiaxis of the periscope. When the'two halves are in such a positon as to supplementeach other to iorma full circle; a single image is visible in the eyepiece and the periscopecan then be used for ordinary observations. It is not necessary that the lens be divided into two substantially equal partsgnor that the two images formed be of approximately equal intensity. Other arrangements, such as a three-part lens, two of which parts are stationary with respect to each'other, would serve as"w ell. I Nor is it necessary that all parts of the lens be movable; similar results can be obtained with only one moving part. For'the purpose of this description, however, the lens is consideredas being divided into two halves of substantially the same size and shape/ When it is desired to determine the range and two objective halves,"which' then begin to slide against one another; This sliding produces two images of approximately equal intensity in the field of view, both images being just as clear and sharp as those produced bythe objective when in its observation position. The movement is continued until the waterline of one image 00- incides with the top of thesmoke stack of the mension of the object ship may of course be chosen.) Themovement of the knob at the same time'rotates a scale conveniently located near the eyepiece, and after the desired coincidencehas been efiected, the observer can read the range upon this scale against the known height measured.u l 7 The range being thusobtained, if the course angle is required the rotationof the knob is continneduntil the maximum displacementof the images is reached. At this point both objective halves together begin to rotate andturn exactly 90,gso that displacement ofthe images is ,no

automatic detentpso that the periscope is again ready for-ordinary observation; The terms "vertical and horizontal in this description are other image (Any other known vertical di- I vertical position,where they are secured by an.

used with refere'nceto the image as seen through the periscope.

shortening of the eye distances. v ,In another form for carrying out this invention, it would of course be possible to bisect fol" otherwise divide) the upper objective of the can scope in a similar manner at right'anglesto that of the lower objective for obtaining course angles, and displace the two-halves tive to a horizontal position without departing from ;;th e;spirit of the invention, It would also be possibleqtoybisect' or otherwise divide only one objective, and tohproduce the lateral displacement of the portions of the lens by one means and the rotation by another, with substantially the same results.

With the ,foregoing and other objects in view, as will hereinafter, become apparent, this invent-ion comprises the constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, hereinafter set forth,'disclose'd and shown on the accompanying drawings; In these drawings,

, (Figure 1-is across sectional view through that portion of the periscope containing the lower objective lens and mountings, the center tube being partially broken away'to showthe construction t ere n,

1 Figure lAis a 'cross section of the eyepiece and prism box, showing the means for revolving and displacing the objective halves, I Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken on line 2- -2 of Figure lA,'- 3

;Figure 3 is, a sectional View taken on line 33 V li'igure 4 isa sectional View taken on line 4 4 of Figure 1, showing clearl the shape of the slots or grooves inthe track,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view indicating the arrangement of the optical elements which are in the periscope, Figure 6 is a modified view. shown diagrammatically wherein two lens are bisected, each operated independently of the, other, and

Figures 7-, 7A, 8, 8A, 9 9A,10 a-nd 10A are diagrammaticviews showing the different positions of ;the lens, during the course of operation, to t sr wi a re res a io -50 t i a p oduced in each of these positions. There- 'isshown at a periscope tube or housing to which this invention has been applied, it being observedthat the invention is not limited to the particular mechanical details which are hereinafter shown only for the purpose of illustrating an operative device embodying this inventio'n. 'Mounted in the side of the tube 15 is the usual periscope eye piece 116 directed toward the usual reflecting prisrn-l'l, which receives its light through the usual field lens 18, the light being refracted through the various lens of the periscope from the upper reflector l9.

This invention consists principally in taking one of the objective lens of the periscope, preferably the-lower objective lens 20, and in transversely dividing this objective lens into two or more sections, only-two sections 21 and 22 being shown in the preferred form. The "objective lens -20,;isso 'mounted inthe periscope that its bisected portions 21. all-d22 are under the control 'of-the observer, whereby theymay be "dis"- placed longitudinally from each other, rotated Bye-separate Y mechanism instead of rotating the lower objeee 1 through a quarter circle as a unit when so displaced, then replaced into coincidence with each other and then reversed back through the quarter oircleto the original position. 1

Each objective lens sectionl and 221s mounted in amount or frame 23, which it will be observed 1 has a lateral flange 24:4 Guide pins project from the frame or' rn'ount'23, preferably at the three positions shown, one pin being on the lateral na-"nee 24, a second pin being on a projection tudinally displaced from each other, as shown in Figures '8 311(1'9, The means for so sliding these sections toward or away from each other and for rotating them includes a rotating track 3 1;, which is formed as a flange on a geared cylindrical section 32, gear teeth 33 being 'pro* vided for cooperation with apinion 34. Formed within the track 31 is a pair of cam slots 35, one ofthe pins 26 preferably that one mounted on the projection being extended downward so as to project into its ca-mslot 35.

'A stop pawl and detent 36 is mounted on the enclosing stationary cylinder 9'55, and projects through a slot 56 therein into one of two stop depressions 57 located 9G" apart on the outside of lens barrel-3O so-as to limit its rotation to exactly a quarter of a circle or 90, the pawl and detent being so constructed that it will retain the lens barrel 30 in either of its rotated positions until a sufficient amount of turning force is applied, whereupon it will release and allow it to rotate.

The pinion 34 is mounted on the end of a shaft 37- provided with ball bearing mountings 38 and controlled by a bevel gear '39 on the other end thereof. This bevel gear 39 meshes with a bevel gear 40 mounted on a control shaft 41 projecting through the periscope tubing or housing 15 and terminating in a handle knob 42 for convenient operation. bythe observer. Also in meshw-ith this bevel gear '40 is another bevel gear 43 mounted on a shaft 44, which in turn operates a range or course meter 45 provided with suitable graduations 46.

*Inoperation, the lens sections 21 and 22 are left in coincidence as in Figure '7 when the periscope -is being used for ordinary observation, a single image as shown in Figure 7A being formed through the objective lens -20 in the usual manner. When it is desired to determine the range of the object, a control-knob 42 is actuated, causing the lens sections 21 and 22 to be longitudinally displaced-from 'each other as the rotating track 31 is rotated thereby.

When the sections 21 and '22 are displaced longitudinally of each other, two images are formed, one by each section 'of the lens, asshown in Figure 8A. The handle knob 42 will be rotateduntil the two images-are vertically'displaced of each other until *the waterline of one image coincides with the top of the smoke stack of the other image, as show nsin Figure 8A. The operation "of the handle knob "42 will simultaneously Wthe objective-lens;fsections.until those parts of,

. as shown in Figure 8A.

i I t f 1,986,781

, operate the range meter 45 and by applying the "light transmission :known distance ibetweenthe height of the smoke stack and the water line of the ship beingoba yl served to the graduations '46, the exact range, can be immediately read off there. Any other known vertical distance; of the observed ship may beused, it only being necessary "to so move the observed ship of whicha distance is known are placed in horizontal line with each other 3 In order to take an observation of the course 7 angle of the observed ship, theknob 42 is then i commence to approach each other continued in rotation until the objective lens sections have moved to their maximum separation; at which time the pawl and detent stop 36 will let go permitting the lens mount barrel 30 t to rotate exactly 90, whereupon the pawl and v detent 36 will operate to prevent further rotation. The rotation of a handle knob 42 will then be reversed and the lens sections 21 will then longitudinally towards the coincidental position. When the '1 lens sections have been allowedto approach each :35 i servation position of Figure"? through the operation of the pawl and detent36 letting go when the other until the forepart of one image is in contact with the aft part of the second image, as, shown in Figure 9A, the apparentlength of the image as foreshortened byits courseangle,

I i is read'oif' against the known length on the scale After this is completed, the knob 42 is rotated to bring the objective lens sections 21 and 22 into I coincidence as in FigurelO and further rotation 46, and the course angle thus determined.

in this same reversed direction will then rotate the lens mount sections 21 and 22 back to'the obsections have come into coincidence as of Figure 10 and taking hold again when the sections are back in the observation position of Figure 7.

Although the objective lens 20 has been shown as divided into two halves 21 and 22, it will be obvious that the transverse division of this lens A J is not limited to either division in halves or to division in two sections. Further, this invention isnot limited to merely transversely dividing the lower objective lens, but if desired boththe upper and lower objective lens may be divided, one at right angles to the other, as schematically shown in Fig. 6, thereby eliminating the necessity for rotating the divided sections.

f In Fig. 6 the lower objective lens 60 is divided into two lenssections Gland '62 capable of longitudinal displacement relative to eachother by the remote control knob 63, this lower objective lens 60 being then used for one observation only as for range observation. The upper objective lens 64 will be transversely divided at right ani i gles to the division of the lower objective lens 60 intotwo sections 65 and 66 controllable for longitudinal displacement relative to each other by the remote control knob 67gwhereby the upper objective lens 64 may be used for course angle observation.

As willbe apparent, suitable meters will be geared to the remote controlknobs 63 and 67in the same manner as in the preferred form, thereby servingfor the same purpose.

With this invention the applicant has provided a periscope which also serves as a stadimeter without, howevenhaving the usual objections.

present'in the conventional stadimeter. The images produced with this invention are free from all aberrations thereby guaranteeing great accuracy injmeasurement. ihere isno decrease in g a 3 through the interposition of additional stadimeter lens nor is the eye distance changed cutting down the field ofobservation and thus convenient'and comfortable observation is produced. The necessity of moving the eye across the dividing line in order to see two images as is necessary in all stadimeter attachments is eliminated. Further, the stadimeter effect of this invention is instantly available under all conditions and it is not necessary to at- 'tach and detach a stadimeter in order to convert this periscope for ordinary observation pur poses to rangeor courseangle observation'pun poses.

The novel features and the operation of this device will be apparent from the foregoing description. While the device has been shown and I the structure described in detail, it is obvious that this is not to be considered limited to the exact means for rotating said longitudinally displaced bisected halves of said objective lens.

2. A periscope including an objective lens, said objective lens being bisected, and means for symmetrically moving said bisected objective lens Sections longitudinally of each other and in a plane normal to the optical axis of said lens and for then rotating said longitudinally displaced objective lens sections as a unit.

3. A. periscope including an objective lens, said objecting lens being bisected, means for symmetrically moving said bisected objective lens sections longitudinally of each other and in a plane normal to the optical axis of said lens and for then rotating said longitudinally placed objective lens sections as a unit, said latter means being reversible to firstmove said longitudinally displaced bisected objective lens sections into coincidence and then rotate said objective lens to its original position.

4. A combination periscope and stadimeter scope, means for symmetrically displacing the bisected sections of said objective lens longitudi- 1 nally of each other and in a plane normal to the optical axis of said lens, meansfor rotating as-a comprising a bisected objective lens in said periunit said longitudinally displaced objective lens sections one-quarter of a revolution, and means.

for measuring the amount of displacement.

5. A combination periscope and stadimeter for obtaining range and course angle measurements, including a bisected objective lens insaid periscope, means for symmetrically displacing said bisected objective lens sections longitudinally of each other and in a plane normal to the optical axis of said lens, means for measuring the longitudinal displacement in terms of range, means for rotating said longitudinally displaced objective lens sections as a unit, said displacing and rotating -means being reversible to replace the bisected objective lens portions toward each other, said measuring means measuring the replacement of said lens sections in terms of course angle.

FREDERICK L. G. KOLLMORGEN. 

